Upcoming Forces sweetheart raising money for Blesma
10 June 2014
17-year-old Kirsten Orsborn from Neath in south Wales has released the single ‘April Wine’ to raise money for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans. The song tells the story of a couple during the First World War and was released in April to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Great War this year and can be downloaded from itunes and Amazon.
On 8 May, Kirsten’s single was launched at Bar Ten in Swansea to an audience of military personnel, supporters and representatives from Blesma. £400 was raised for the charity by the auctioning off of a framed and signed disc of ‘April Wine’.
As part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations on Saturday 28 June, Kirsten will be performing in Bristol at a family-fun event during the day and at a 1940s-themed party in the evening.
Other events Kirsten has coming up include an exclusive performance for the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital on 2 July and another at Cardiff Conservative Club on Friday 11 July for Blesma. Entrance to the event in Cardiff will be £5 and include a curry meal.
Recently, Kirsten has been asked to be a patron for Veterans Radio Net, run by Falklands War veteran Ken Campbell following her work with military veterans across the UK.
Annette Hall, Head of Fundraising at Blesma says: “We are so proud to have the support of such a driven and enthusiastic fundraiser in Kirsten. I am extremely grateful for all the hard work and effort Kirsten and her family have put in to not only raising money for Blesma, but also raising awareness for us.”
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants. It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor
Hi-res images can be downloaded from the links below:
Kirsten Orsborn: /media/145330/kirsten2.jpg
From the launch event – Kirsten with Ruth Madoc and members of the Royal Marines and Cadets associations: /media/145331/HA2_0524.jpg
About Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless serving and ex-service men and women, their widows and dependants. It is a membership organisation which helps wounded service men and women rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support. Their membership includes those who have lost the use of a limb, an eye or the sight of an eye.
Blesma was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932. Blesma today has over 4000 Members and widows. The membership consists of men and women who have served during the Second World War and the many subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations since, including the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Follow us on Twitter @BLESMA
For further information on Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, contact
Bryony Stevens, Media and Communications Assistant
T: 020 8590 1124
W: www.blesma.org
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